Cut on leg infected? Not healing and redness...? -Advice please.... - General Health Message Board

Pipsal · 08-21-2008, 07:27 AM

About 12 days ago I noticed I had a small cut on my lower calf. I don't know how I did it, I think I must have banged across it with my other foot (shoe) when I clumsily hopped into the car because it was a few minutes later when I was driving that I noticed it. As far as cuts go, it is a very small one - maybe 1cm long and about 4mm wide. It seemed to be kind of a 'gouged' cut, deeper than your average scratch, but it only bled to the surface. Considering the small size of it, it was quite sore and I could feel it all the time for the first 48 hours or so.

I put Betadine on it the first night to prevent infection. The following night however, all of a sudden there was a red area around the cut about 2cm diameter. My family saw it and were a little concerned, so we put Betadine on it regularly for the next 48hrs, and at night I put a band-aid on it so I wouldn't bump it and irritate it as it was still tender. The third night I put a bandaid on it, I woke up with redness under the 'sticky' parts as well as around the cut. I have not worn anything on it for 7 days now, and it is still red - around the cut and where the bandaid was, same size and still very red around the sore. (have used betadine and bandaids for 20years and never had a problem so I don't think its allergy) The sore itself has a dark scab on it but it has not improved either. I thought it might be infected, but it is not very painful - if I bump it I can feel it, and its almost like there is a sensation there that I am aware of most of the time, but it is not painful or itchy.

Do you think it could still be infected? How long should I leave it to get better on its own? If it wasn't for the redness and the 'sensation' that it is there, I would not have even looked twice at it. But the redness is so noticeable I have had people at work comment on it. I wonder whether the circulation in my legs isn't great and worry that I might end up with an ulcer or something if it won't heal. Any help/advice appreciated. Thanks.

feelbad · 08-21-2008, 08:23 AM

in the "better safe than sorry mode" here,i do think its time to at least have this looked at by your primary. since you have no idea either as to just what caused this cut(or possible bacteria that was actually on whatever cut you),it would be very possible to have developed some level of infection. are your shots up to date as well,like your tetanaus? you may need a booster there too. since this is not actually healing and is red as well,i do think just having your doc take a look at it would be the best way to go at this point.

is it producing any drainage that is yellow or greenish? i would simply make an appt to have this evaluated soon,since you may need some level of anti Bs to actually clear it. and that tetanaus too if it has been awhile since you had one. hope it gets better soon. please let me know how you are doing. FB

spinaltap · 08-30-2008, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipsal

About 12 days ago I noticed I had a small cut on my lower calf. I don't know how I did it, I think I must have banged across it with my other foot (shoe) when I clumsily hopped into the car because it was a few minutes later when I was driving that I noticed it. As far as cuts go, it is a very small one - maybe 1cm long and about 4mm wide. It seemed to be kind of a 'gouged' cut, deeper than your average scratch, but it only bled to the surface. Considering the small size of it, it was quite sore and I could feel it all the time for the first 48 hours or so.

I put Beta dine on it the first night to prevent infection. The following night however, all of a sudden there was a red area around the cut about 2cm diameter. My family saw it and were a little concerned, so we put Beta dine on it regularly for the next 48hrs, and at night I put a band-aid on it so I wouldn't bump it and irritate it as it was still tender. The third night I put a bandaid on it, I woke up with redness under the 'sticky' parts as well as around the cut. I have not worn anything on it for 7 days now, and it is still red - around the cut and where the bandaid was, same size and still very red around the sore. (have used beta dine and band aids for years and never had a problem so I don't think its allergy) The sore itself has a dark scab on it but it has not improved either. I thought it might be infected, but it is not very painful - if I bump it I can feel it, and its almost like there is a sensation there that I am aware of most of the time, but it is not painful or itchy.

Do you think it could still be infected? How long should I leave it to get better on its own? If it wasn't for the redness and the 'sensation' that it is there, I would not have even looked twice at it. But the redness is so noticeable I have had people at work comment on it. I wonder whether the circulation in my legs isn't great and worry that I might end up with an ulcer or something if it won't heal. Any help/advice appreciated. Thanks.

the thing you describe on your leg is like something i have it started out
like a vein or tender spot on leg it did not hurt or itch like you said this
was in February i waited until April to go to doctor who said it was bacteria
and put me on antibiotics which i took three times it started to go away but
not completely i went to wedding and put iodine on it and bad aid which
burnt it from the iodine the summer is over and i still have it no as bad it
seems to get lighter like you i taught about ulcer but it just remains a little
swollen if you feel it the only thing i can tell you if it is bacteria is takes a
long time to go away.just taught i would share this with you

jackcc · 08-30-2008, 02:26 PM

Pipsal
Betadine is a skin cleaner containing iodine and is a disinfectant. Its the best first step in treating a little wound. If blood is present, an antibotic ointment should be applied over the betadine and then a bandage or bandaid. It sounds like in your case the cleaner was not enough. The key here is an antibotic cream or ointment. Thats what will kill the infection and help in healing. It would be good at this point to let a medical professional have a look at it.